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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
Translation © by Rodrigo Ruiz
Selige Sehnsucht
Language: German (Deutsch)
Sagt es niemand, nur den Weisen, Weil die Menge gleich verhöhnet, Das Lebend'ge will ich preisen, Das nach Flammentod sich sehnet. In der Liebesnächte Kühlung, Die dich zeugte, wo du zeugtest, Überfällt dich fremde Fühlung, Wenn die stille Kerze leuchtet. Nicht mehr bleibest du umfangen In der Finsternis Beschattung, Und dich reißet neu Verlangen Auf zu höherer Begattung. Keine Ferne macht dich schwierig, Kommst geflogen und gebannt, Und zuletzt, des Lichts begierig, Bist du, Schmetterling, verbrannt. Und so lang du das nicht hast, Dieses: Stirb und werde! Bist du nur ein trüber Gast Auf der dunklen Erde. Tut ein Schilf sich doch hervor, Welten zu versüßen! Möge meinem Schreibe-Rohr Liebliches entfließen!
E. Pepping sets stanzas 1-5
P. Even sets stanzas 1-5
K. Zelter sets stanzas 1-5 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
R. Ruiz sets stanzas 1-5
R. Gawlick sets stanza 5
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Selige Sehnsucht", written 1814, appears in West-östlicher Divan, in 1. Buch des Sängers -- Moganni Nameh, first published 1816 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Pierre Even (b. 1946), "Selige Sehnsucht", op. 53 (2012), first performed 2012, stanzas 1-5 [ baritone and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Friedrich Gulda (1930 - 2000), "Selige Sehnsucht", 1973 [ voice and instrumental ensemble (jazz trio) ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Emil Mattiesen (1875 - 1939), "Selige Sehnsucht", op. 3 ([Acht] Lieder und Gesänge) no. 2 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Arnold Mendelssohn (1855 - 1933), "Selige Sehnsucht", published 1910 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ernst Pepping (1901 - 1981), "Selige Sehnsucht", 1946, published 1949, stanzas 1-5 [ voice and piano ], from Haus- und Trostbuch, no. 12 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Wilhelm Petersen (1890 - 1957), "Selige Sehnsucht", op. 40 (Goethe-Lieder) no. 9, published 1941 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hermann Reutter (1900 - 1985), "Selige Sehnsucht", op. 73 (Sechs Gedichte aus der "westöstliche Divan") no. 1 (1951) [ duet ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wolfgang Michael Rihm (1952 - 2024), "Selige Sehnsucht", 2004-7, first performed 2007 [ baritone and piano ], from Goethe-Lieder, no. 6 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Rodrigo Ruiz , "Selige Sehnsucht", R 7 no. 1 (2017), stanzas 1-5 [ soprano and piano ], from Goethe-Lieder: a song set after the master poet, no. 1, Universal Edition [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Othmar Schoeck (1886 - 1957), "Selige Sehnsucht", op. 19b no. 6 (1911) [ voice and piano ], from Lieder aus dem Westöstlichen Diwan von Goethe, no. 6 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Karl Friedrich Zelter (1758 - 1832), "Selige Sehnsucht", 1820, published 1826 [ vocal quartet of male voices ], Berlin, T. Trautwein; in Tafel-Lieder für Männerstimmen: Für die Liedertafel zu Berlin, von Carl Fried. Zelter. Heft V [sung text not yet checked]
- by Karl Friedrich Zelter (1758 - 1832), "Selige Sehnsucht", Z. 127 no. 4, published 1826, stanzas 1-5 [ bass and piano ], from Sechs deutsche Lieder für die Bass-Stimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte, no. 4, Berlin: T. Trautwein [sung text checked 1 time]
The text above (or a part of it) is used in the following settings:
- by Ralf Yusuf Gawlick (b. 1969), "Ruf des Todes (1937)", op. 19 no. 5b (2012-2013) [ soprano, unaccompanied ], from Kollwitz-Konnex (…im Frieden seiner Hände), song cycle for soprano & guitar, no. 5b
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Blissful yearning", copyright ©
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Rodrigo Ruiz) , "Bendito anhelo", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 111
Bendito anhelo
Language: Spanish (Español) after the German (Deutsch)
Decidlo a nadie, solo a los sabios, pues la gente enseguida se burla; al principio de la vida alabaré, que la muerte de flamas desea. En la frescura de las noches de amor que te engendraron, donde engendraste, te asalta una extraña sensación cuando la silenciosa vela alumbra. No más permaneces envuelto en la oscuridad sombría, y te atrae un nuevo anhelo hacia más elevada cópula. Ninguna distancia te hace pesar, vienes volando y encantado, y finalmente, ansioso de luz, eres, mariposa, quemada. Y mientras tú no tengas ésto; este: ¡Morir y transformarse!, serás solo un pobre visitante en la oscura Tierra. [... ... ... ...]
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to Spanish (Español) copyright © 2022 by Rodrigo Ruiz, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Selige Sehnsucht", written 1814, appears in West-östlicher Divan, in 1. Buch des Sängers -- Moganni Nameh, first published 1816
This text was added to the website: 2022-06-27
Line count: 24
Word count: 102